title: Alveolar distraction osteogenesis in posterior atrophic mandible: a case report on a new technical approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a clinical case of dental implant rehabilitation of an atrophic posterior mandible with the usage of a new alveolar distraction protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A posterior atrophic mandible was treated with distraction osteogenesis; after the first phase of latency (10 days), the activation phase (24 days), and the consolidation phase (30 days), the distractor was removed, and 2 implants were placed; 4 months thereafter, the fixtures were provisionally loaded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complications were recorded during the treatment. At the end of the activation phase, a mean of 5 mm of vertical bone augmentation was obtained, and it allowed the placement of two 10-mm long fixtures. No periimplant bone resorption was detected at the time of definitive prosthetic loading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed protocol secured a sound prosthetic rehabilitation on an otherwise atrophied posterior mandible so as to avoid grafting procedures.
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinic, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Felice
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lizio
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Checchi
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D001284:Atrophy; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D003833:Denture, Partial, Temporary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D059745:Piezosurgery / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D014025:Titanium